Simay Barlas

The Technical Training Behind the Image

Simay Barlas was born in Istanbul in May 1999. She did not enter show business through a stroke of luck at a shopping mall or a viral social media ad. She studied Film and Television at Bilgi University in Istanbul because she wanted to understand script structure and shot composition. She graduated with a technical perspective that is often missing from profiles that only chase media exposure.

Her first real break came in 2014 with the series Paramparça. She was fifteen and had a minor role as Öykü. But it was enough to catch the attention of casting directors with her ability to stay calm under the spotlight. At that time, she juggled theory classes with shoots that sometimes lasted more than twelve hours.

It was not a path mapped out with a ruler and set square.

In 2017, she took part in Adı Efsane, playing Naz. It was her first experience with high-intensity youth drama. The series was not a mass phenomenon, but it helped Barlas refine her working method. She prefers silence before stepping on set and avoids distractions from the crew between takes.

The Leap in Scale on Zalim İstanbul

In 2019, her career took a different direction when she accepted the role of Damla Karaçay in Zalim İstanbul. The character was a young woman from a wealthy family with selfish traits and a psychologically complex arc. The show was exported to dozens of countries and reached audience shares above 20% in several international markets.

And the gamble paid off.

During the 39 episodes of the show, Barlas's name began to appear on the rosters of Turkey's most powerful talent agencies. But she kept a low profile off the sets. In 2020, she closed that chapter to seek out projects that moved away from the archetype of the rich girl from Istanbul.

In 2021, she moved into period drama with Aziz. She played Efnan in a story set in the 1930s. It was a major physical challenge because filming took place in harsh weather conditions and required a makeover that hid her usual look. The series racked up 28 episodes before the network canceled it for good.

Physical Demands and Closing the Chapter on Yabani

In 2023, she joined the cast of Yabani to bring Rüya to life. It was a project that demanded a great deal of emotional investment because of the raw suspense and family drama storylines. The production became one of the best-selling titles at the television content fairs in Cannes during that same period.

But the script is king and shows no favoritism.

In 2024, Simay Barlas's departure from the series generated considerable media buzz on digital platforms. The writers decided that her character had to die at the start of the second season to force a change of direction in the main storyline. It was a creative decision that abruptly left the actress out of the project.

Production company NTC Medya confirmed the end of her contract after filming a total of 37 episodes. Her involvement ended with an outdoor scene shot in the Beşiktaş district under strict confidentiality protocols to prevent leaks. Her professional record now includes more than ten long-running projects in less than a decade of steady work.